Amidst concerns over the city’s wastewater management, Baltimore City Department of Public Works officials convened with Cherry Hill residents yesterday to communicate the strides made in the operations of the city's wastewater facilities. According to Fox Baltimore, the department detailed over $250 million invested into improving both the Back River and Patapsco plants. DPW Director Matthew Garbark proclaimed that the Back River plant is "operating at the best it's ever operated at in its history."
These community meetings are part of a broader engagement strategy mandated by a consent decree, which was necessitated after a series of permit violations dating back to 2017 came to light. As per CBS News Baltimore, the decree obligates the city to keep the public informed and to post quarterly updates online. Despite the consistent progress, the DPW acknowledges that not all projects are yet complete, citing the H-shape digesters at Back River as an ongoing work.
In 2023, Baltimore City was liable for nearly $5 million in penalties over issues concerning water quality at these plants. This punitive action followed inspections by the Maryland Department of the Environment that found the facilities were discharging pollutants, including bacteria and nutrients, into local waterways. The department had temporarily relinquished control of the Back River plant in 2022 after suspect substances were identified in the water.
Officials at the department cited several factors for the historical issues faced by the wastewater plants, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated supply chain disruptions and staff shortages.
The city has scheduled another public update for October 29 at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant.
